ADC: Rejects INEC Warning on Independent Election Result Collation

• The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected INEC's warning against publishing independently collated election results.
• ADC plans to use its agents and grassroots structures to record, collate, and publish verified polling-unit results for the 2027 general elections.
• The party asserts a constitutional right to freedom of expression, allowing it to collect and share electoral information without usurping INEC's official role.
• ADC acknowledges INEC's statutory responsibility to declare official results but aims to enhance transparency by making polling-unit data publicly available.
• This move highlights an ongoing debate about electoral transparency and the role of political parties and citizens in documenting election outcomes ahead of the 2027 polls.

The ADC's position, therefore, is not merely a rejection of a warning but a broader assertion of democratic rights, setting a precedent for how future elections might be observed and contested.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has publicly rejected a caution issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regarding the independent collation and publication of election results. This stance, articulated by Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, came in response to remarks made by INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan, who had advised against the dissemination of unofficial electoral outcomes. The ADC firmly asserts that both citizens and political organizations possess a fundamental right to gather, compile, and share polling-unit data.

Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, the ADC has outlined its strategy to implement this right. The party intends to deploy its network of agents and grassroots infrastructure to meticulously record results directly from polling units. These collected figures will then undergo a collation process, with the verified information subsequently made public. The party emphasized that while it would publish these independently gathered results, it would clearly identify their origin and status, distinguishing them from official declarations.

This proactive declaration by the ADC underscores a growing tension between electoral bodies and political parties over the scope of transparency and information dissemination in Nigeria's electoral landscape. The party's commitment to independently collate election results and make them accessible to the public sets a precedent for how political parties might engage with the electoral process in the upcoming 2027 polls, potentially increasing scrutiny on the official results.

While acknowledging INEC's undisputed statutory mandate to officially declare election results and announce winners, the African Democratic Congress contends that this responsibility does not preclude political parties, candidates, or the general populace from independently collecting and sharing electoral data. The party grounds its position in the constitutional right to freedom of expression, arguing that the ability to collate and disseminate election results is not abrogated by any existing limitation clauses within the constitution.

The ADC's proposed system is not designed to serve as an alternative to the official pronouncements made by INEC. Instead, its primary objective is to enhance public access to polling-unit results, thereby contributing to greater transparency in the electoral process. The party explicitly stated that its figures would be presented as independently collated results, distinct from any official declarations by the electoral commission. This approach, according to the ADC, is not an attempt to usurp INEC's statutory powers but rather an affirmation of the constitutional rights of citizens and political entities to access, document, and communicate information pertaining to elections.

The party's leadership stressed that the constitutional responsibility vested in INEC to determine and announce the final outcome of elections cannot reasonably diminish the right of citizens to gather, compile, and share electoral information. This legal interpretation highlights a critical area for lawyers advising political parties or election observation groups in Nigeria, as the ADC's assertion signals potential legal challenges or clarifications regarding the scope of electoral transparency, freedom of expression, and the statutory powers of the electoral commission in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections.

The debate surrounding the independent collation of election results has been a recurring feature in recent Nigerian electoral cycles, particularly with the widespread adoption of digital platforms by political parties, candidates, observers, and citizens to document voting processes and share emerging results. As stakeholders intensify their preparations for the 2027 general elections, the transparency surrounding the collation and transmission of polling-unit results is anticipated to remain a significant point of contention. The African Democratic Congress maintains that electoral transparency should not be exclusively confined to the electoral commission, asserting that political parties and citizens also play a legitimate and crucial role in documenting both the voting process and the results at individual polling units.

This development underscores the evolving landscape of election monitoring and accountability in Nigeria. While INEC remains the legally recognized body responsible for conducting federal and state elections, collating results through prescribed processes, and declaring winners, the ADC's firm stance on its right to independently collate election results pushes the boundaries of traditional electoral oversight. The party's commitment to publishing its own verified figures, clearly identified as independently collated, aims to foster greater public trust and accountability, even as it navigates the established legal framework.

The ADC's position, therefore, is not merely a rejection of a warning but a broader assertion of democratic rights, setting a precedent for how future elections might be observed and contested. This ongoing discussion about the right of political parties to collate election results in Nigeria will undoubtedly shape public discourse and potentially influence legal interpretations concerning electoral transparency as the nation moves towards the 2027 polls.

Lawyers advising political parties or election observation groups in Nigeria should note the ADC's assertion of constitutional rights to independently collate and publish election results, despite INEC's warnings. This stance signals potential legal challenges or clarifications regarding the scope of electoral transparency, freedom of expression, and the statutory powers of the electoral commission in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections.

Source: Original reporting via Punch Newspapers.